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Why extremism is on the rise? [transcript]

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Researchers, peace workers, and activists have been always trying to identify how and why individuals turn to extremism. Today, due to the rise of extremism, there are renewed attempts at answering this old, yet more relevant than ever before, questions. 

The answers, if any, are far from simple!

It is a challenge to determine the motives behind extremism. As highlighted in a recent article in the Washington Post, “Determining motivation is an imperfect science” especially when it comes to acts of extremism and terrorism. 

An anti-terrorism judge in Paris says that Ninety percent of those who become involved in terrorist activities, ‘do it out of personal reasons: they are looking for a fight, or for adventure, or revenge, because they do not fit in society … and only 10% out of religious beliefs […] Religion is not the engine of this movement and that’s precisely its strength.” 

However, one thing we know for sure is that extremism is on the rise in the world, and that there are several factors that may have contributed to this growth. The following is a summary of some of the key factors or motivations highlighted by a variety of sources such as the centre for strategic and international studies, the NewYork Times, and several research articles.

First, extremists are increasingly using the internet and social media to propagate hate. Online has always been this double-sided sword. It provides an unparalleled opportunity to reach a broader audience, which is why extremists use the internet and social media to communicate with others and attract followers. For example, extremists have used Twitter, posted videos on YouTube, established Facebook pages, created Instagram accounts, and communicated on social media to share their extremist agenda. 

There are also specific websites that feed this hate and are influential in spreading it. Sadly, but true, the Internet and social media have facilitated the spread of extremist ideologies and violence. Extremists’ online statements and pledges to acts of terrorism become a model for future acts, inspiring more extremism. 

Second, extremism has also been energized over the past decade by several phenomena. In particular, the increased movement of people across borders and the fear of accepting others. Unfortunately, Europe, for example, has seen xenophobic violence amid an influx of migrants and refugees. People see an attack on their privileged position in the West by immigrants, and racial and religious minorities.  People become more extreme in their views against others who come to share their countries. As highlighted by euroactiv.com “Extremist groups utilise these opportunities to the fullest’ …. They see migrants and refugees as a threat to their identities and a force ‘capable of reifying and redefining’ their societies. 

Third, research has often highlighted ethnocentric views; defined as a culturally biased judgment applying the frame of reference provided by one’s culture to a different culture, as a motivation for people’s extreme behaviours and a justification to exclude others. 

Ethnocentric people have a strong definition of ‘us’ versus ‘them’. Whoever does not belong to the ‘us’ group, for example follows a different religion, is perceived in homogeneous ways and classified as belonging to ‘them’ painting an entire ethnic, religious, or racial group by the same brush, and ignoring cultural differences, complexities, and contradictions. Unfortunately, this view can sometimes be encouraged by nationalistic and xenophobic statements made by influential leaders. 

Today we cannot ignore the fact that we live in multicultural societies. And that extremism is a threat and a risk undermining the cohesion in culturally diverse societies. As the social, racial, ethnic, and religious composition of any society grows, demands for recognition and understanding of diverse needs are more likely to occur. As nicely put in an online blog on Ignorance and Ethnocentrism: ‘In a world full of knowledge ignorance still exists.’ 

It is key to ‘know’ that “Other cultures and groups have so much to offer and we have a choice here, we can choose to be open minded or we can choose to remain close minded toward the groups that are different than ours.’ Extremism is a fruit of this ignorance and exaggerated tendency to believe the superiority of one’s own group.

It is clear, from the above reasons and motivations, that hate is propagated online fed by unacceptance and ignorance of the other. 
We, at FAH, do not claim we have answers to end extremism. Rather our mission is to spread – online – love, through a shared understanding of relevant issues that can benefit and widen the perspectives of and ForAll Humans.

References:

https://www.csis.org/analysis/rise-far-right-extremism-united-states

https://www.cidob.org/en/articulos/monografias/resilient_cities/what_accounts_for_the_rise_of_violent_extremism_in_european_cities

https://www.euractiv.com/section/social-europe-jobs/opinion/when-ignorance-was-bliss-domestic-extremism-in-europe/

https://www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/far-right-extremism-rising-us-report-says

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